Western Connecticut State University

Date: Feb 22 2008
Major: Undecided (This Major's Salary over time)
Western is a very accessible school. It is less expensive, and for Connecticut residents, it is close to home. Its your typical state school. If your notion of higher level education is that it is a means to a degree, then Western is a looking good. Unfortunately for me, this was the strong opinion of both my parents, that although Western is not the most prestigious school in New England, it is the most logical stepping stone between childhood and adulthood. Why pay thousands and thousands of dollars at another, most likely private, institution for the same degree?

The answer is because I have a brain. In high school I had a close group of friends, whom are self described intellectuals and felt held back, counting down the days until release from our home town. I too held the same excitement. I couldnt wait to find more whom were like my friends. I couldnt wait to learn about the things I was interested in and find what it was that I wanted to do with me life. But I came to WestConn. Originally, I had a preconceived idea that Western would be filled with underachievers who were happy just to be attending college, the slightly dull losers I had seen in high school who understood they needed a degree to make money in the future, so “why not apply to a state school. But I also thought there would be some niche whom were like me, whose parents werent wealthy and whom were financially forced into this school.

Well, I have been searching, and cant find a soul. I understand this sounds extremely elitist, but I have been isolated from connecting to anybody on a level I can be satisfied with. Almost everybody is superficial and shallow. My social skills are atrophying in this world where “gay is a seriously abused adjective and beerpong is a way of life. I cant help but be upset during class when we have discussion style learning and my class is silent, confused and lame. The social scene consists of lobotomized stoner jocks that treat class like the plague and avoid it all costs. The girls are interested in your muscles and whether you are wearing Abercrombie. It is as if every part of high school I could not wait to move beyond had agglomerated and swallowed me whole.

Yes, getting a degree is some cases is a means to an end. But college is above learning about Sigmund Freud and Derivatives. It is about becoming a better person, preparing you for the real world, for life. WestConn doesnt do that. In fact, during orientation the freshman class was told by the president, or dean, I forget which, “Our goal is to get you to graduate. Really? That is the goal? Basically take our money and make sure we grab that slip of paper in the end? If you have the means, take the time and find a college that fits who you are, not the size of your pocket.